Unspooled.
Silence stewed
memory that sat between
bouts of lucidity
like a third person,
as certain proof.
Living life backwards
she thought
of but good days
when laughter
lightened each room
in the house.
A stranger than real
mood persisted
curling old dreams
into curious
meanings as past
now became
fused to in-action.
Hair like unspooled
threads above
a lined forehead
drooped
in dry tangles
as she tied strings
of kept dignity
continually
round swollen fingers.
Time's passing
turns cotton to satin
when locked into
dementia.
-
Author:
Fay Slimm. (
Offline) - Published: June 5th, 2021 04:30
- Comment from author about the poem: The verse appeared after reading the invitation above. Hope the message is not offensive.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 49
Offline)
Comments9
I think you well and truly nailed it my friend .. such a brilliant poem for such a cruel collection of symptoms that variously have a despairingly destructive impact on the individual, their families, friends and society as a whole ...
Neville x
Yes cruel indeed these destructive symptoms where confusion brings more than a victim can cope with .............. that Dementia quote Loneliness Hurts did it for me and really appreciate your in-put on such a disturbingly familiar subject Nev..................x
Who knows what maelstrom our minds may be swept into if dementia choses to knock our ajar door of age.
You bring a poetic 'jumble of thoughts' syndrome to life with your gentle loving feminine take on this monster disease. Truly a moving but quite upsetting read.
You show your poetic brilliance here deftly dealing with a worry anyone over sixty harbours in the quiet corners of thought where we fear to tread.
Yes it appears as a troublesome worry to some when confusion begins to make itself known Dusk - it certainly is a "monster disease" and thanks for the thoughtful comment.
A fine write Fay.
Thanks Orchi my friend for your visit and read.
No, not at all, Fay. Well played, a world my mother lived in at the end.
Sorry to hear your Mom lived in this monster world Jerry -- all too familiar these symptoms today.
Not offensive.
Not going to try to formulate a coherent response other than to mark that I loathe the whole damn thing, particularly as it raises the question: who am I really?
A write based very much in that reality, Fay.
Yes this condition has become a familiar reality and the quote from DementiaLivesHere was I found a good reminder that neighbourly help is often a boon to such sufferers prior to diagnosis. Thanks a load Dave for reading and for your honest comment
“Worry” seems (understandably), a common theme here.
Thought it might be worth noting (and stop me if you are already aware):
The brain, as all other organs in the body is subject to that inevitable process , ageing. Just as a seventy year old doesn’t run quite as fast as a seventeen year old, so the brain slows a little, ‘senior moments’ appear (forget names, can’t find words etc). Hopefully this is compensated for by experience of and lessons learnt from this big bad world.
However, for some these temporary minor losses are (sometimes) taken to be indications of dementia’s onset. In most cases wrong.
However, taken seriously, depression can set in, symptoms of which include sleep problems, indecision, lack of concentration and so on – This reinforces the suspicion of dementia – results in a downward depressive spiral which has nothing to do with the actual disease.
Forget it – you more than likely haven’t got it, in other words….
Not personal to you, Fay – for whomsoever it may concern…..
Fay you're basically a poet laureate!
Oh Shucks says I with a sudden blush - - and dare I think you could be a visionary S.C.- - your words leave me smiling however my humble thanks for the very idea .
Never offensive - always a joy to read.
My wife had dementia for many years, it is the most horrific of problems and if people have not lived 24/7 with somebody who has the problem that have no ******* idea what it is like. I know it sounds awful to say but when Joyce passed away it was a release for both of us.
The last count I heard was that there were 223 types of dementia!!
Andy
Special thanks Dave for your welcome input to the discussion on dementia and how it affects many today -- - bless you for thinking my verse may be based on personal experience but as I supply home-made sensory blankets and bags etc to homes and hospitals in Cornwall I realize how depression degenerates and can even accelerate brain disorder and thought a few lines might make others aware that loneliness and worry reinforces in some cases such spiraling when visitors are rarely seen. My sincere gratitude for your thoughtful reviews after reading Unspooled.
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